Apprentice - Software Development & Testing Ref. 401

Department

Apprentices

Salary

Starting salary c.£16,000

Job description

HMGCC has unique and exciting opportunities for Software Apprentices to join our growing cyber team. You will have the opportunity to work with the latest technology and equipment and you'll be working with software developers and cyber engineers who are amongst the best in their field. You will gain a solid foundation of software development and testing skills on which to build your future career.

What makes HMGCC different is that you'll have the opportunity to get involved in the whole process. You'll learn new skills and gain experience in a range of computer languages and IT systems whilst working with a variety of customers and systems engineers. We'll give you the opportunity to get creative, write and test code and help you to develop the necessary skills to get the work done, and deliver awesome software and cyber capability.

As a Software Apprentice, you will complete a two year development programme towards the Apprenticeship Standard for the Level 4 Software Developer.

Your Technical Skills

The minimum technical skills and qualifications we need you to already have:

• A Level 3 Software Development Apprenticeship or• An equivalent qualification, such as A Level in Computing, Maths or• A BTEC National in Computing or• An equivalent qualification

Your Personal Skills

To work as an HMGCC Software apprentice you will be the type of person who:

• Behaveswith integrity: you will be professional, honest and reliable• Wants to make a difference: you will want to add value to our organisation by delivering the best possible service, even when you're faced with a challenge• Can work in a team: you will be keen to cooperate, collaborate, support and respect your team members to ensure you understand and can achieve our goals• Is creative: you will be passionate about technology and eager to develop your own skills and knowledge to produce accurate, detailed work. You will have an aptitude for logical reasoning and problem solving

The Scheme

In the first year there is a 3 month accelerated academic training block at the start of the programme with face-to­ face learning delivered in the training room. This allows you to build a solid foundation of practical skills and knowledge of technical programming. The remainder of your training is based on blended learning through online modules, mentored work placements and customer projects. We also fund your membership with a professional organisation such as the British Computer Society.

Your apprenticeship programme will ensure you gain both the breadth and depth of experience you need to become a vital part of our future. We will offer you a positive and creative environment to work in and give you all of the tools and training to develop and be the best that you can be.

On successful completion of your apprenticeship, you will begin your career working at HMGCC as a Software Technician within the Development or Verification and Validation Teams. We will continue to invest and develop your skills and knowledge in our organisation where the opportunities to progress are boundless if you have the potential and ambition.

As you progress through the scheme your salary will be reviewed, and will increase annually, if you are performing as expected throughout the course.

The apprenticeship programme content may be subject to some variation in light of our continuous improvements. If there are significant changes, you will be informed in writing prior to the programme start.

Scheme Qualifications

You will complete your apprenticeship with a City & Guilds Level 4 Diploma in Software Languages and a BCS (British Computer Society) qualification in System Development Essentials. But your development doesn't stop there: you may still have the opportunity to continue your development towards a higher level, such as a degree apprenticeship.

Your Career

Here's a flavour of the types of thing you could be doing once you've achieved your apprenticeship:

The Software Development Team: You'll create user-friendly 'Apps' that make sure our customers can communicate securely: this could be via desktop, laptop, mobile phone or tablets. You'll be involved in creating and developing new products and will have the opportunity to research next generation telecoms and cyber technologies. You'll work with the cyber security team to spot and correct weaknesses in existing products and ensure new products are secure by design. You'll provide practical guidance and tools to help our customers make the best use of our products.

The Software Test and Evaluation Team: You'll be responsible for ensuring that HMGCC's customer products perform as intended and are reliable, safe and secure. You'll create ingenious testing activities using a varied range of testing tools and clever techniques to uncover unknown glitches, and record accurate test results. You'll work with products that can range in scale from a simple single-purpose item to a complex integrated, cyber system which crosses anything from IT systems, networking, wireless, acoustics, general electronics, mobile technologies and video systems.

If you already have an existing qualification at the same or higher in a similar subject, please contact us to discuss whether your application would be eligible.

To find out more about HMGCC and how we are truly individual both as an organisation and an employer visit www .hmgcc.gov.uk.

Please note dependent on the recruitment requirements, we withhold the right to bring forward the closing date for this role from the original closing date.